One of the goals many people have upon retirement is to have the time and opportunity to travel. Travel has become more convenient with the use of ATM’s, cell phones, and bookings on the worldwide web. On the other hand, worldwide terrorists attacks, security lines at airports, traffic congestion on the ground and in the air, decline of passenger trains in the U.S., and credit card fraud have made travel more difficult.
When the airlines stopped offering discounts to travel agents, the industry went through a severe cutback that closed a lot of smaller agencies. Agents now have to charge a fee for their services, but so do most online travel services. Whereas most people used to make their travel arrangements through an agency, many now book directly online. Which is preferable?
Well, the obvious answer is that it depends upon how proficient one is in the use of computers and familiar with the labyrinth of the worldwide web that can be very confusing. I personally haven’t found any difficulty with fraud from booking online, but others have. Most online travel sites requirement payment at the time of booking but so do agencies. Cruises and group tours usually require an initial down payment but full payment isn’t required until 30-60 days in advance.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages? Researching and booking online can be done from the convenience of your home and you can have fun considering all the options and it doesn’t cost anything until you enter your credit card and hit “buy now.” If you are an inexperienced traveler or going to some remote location for the first time, a a travel agent can be very helpful. They have commercial versions of the online services and are more familiar with the quirks of each. They provide literature for you to peruse to help you make your decisions and can offer frank advice on which companies are reliable and which to avoid. Most fees are reasonable and well worth the cost.
It is unreasonable to expect an agent to spend hours with you going over all the possible options even if you are a regular customer. Many agencies now depend upon commercial accounts to book frequent travel and are less oriented to the individual. Advice can vary from agent to agent even within the same agency depending upon their personal experience and some are more personable than others --- just as you would find in any other business. You really need to have a clear idea in mind of what you want to do when you talk with an agent even though you may go in and pick up free literature at any time.
Although most online bookings are done through a handful of services, there are also many specialized services that cover only a specific area of the globe or unique opportunities such as adventure, small group, handicapped, Christian, or gay& lesbian tours. You have to research to find these web sites and services and much depends upon your personal interests and perseverance. Some airlines will not book through an independent online service and require you to book only through their sites.
Many online services also provide access via the telephone. You may check out the various options on their web site to see schedules, prices, photos, etc., and then book with a real live person. If I am booking multiple locations, trips, etc. at the same time, I prefer to talk with someone even if I have gathered all the information online.
A listing of some of the primary online services is attached. In addition to this brief summary, all of the cruise lines, tour companies, large agencies, and magazines have their own web sites. What experiences have you had with them and what do you like or dislike about your travel agent? Have you used the same agent or the years or do you use different agents depending on the type of travel?
http://www.specialitytravel.com